Elevator-controller interlock.



H-.'B. LOCKWOOD & G. W, BRINKMAN;

ELEVATOR com'nousa INTEBLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. 1918.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

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HARRY B. LOCKWOOD AND W, BBINKMAN, 0E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELEVATOB CONTROLLER. INTERLOCK.

Specification of Letters Yatcnt.

Patented. arm. 20, 1918.

Application filed May 13, 1918. Scria1No.234,320.

To all whom z'tmay concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY B. Loolrwooo and Gnoncn lV. BRINKMAN, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevator-Controller Interlocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that general class of safety appliances for elevators whereby the elevator shaft doors cannot be opened unless the controller arm is in the neutral or off position, and likewise it is necessary to close the door before the con troller arm can be moved away from such neutral position.

The purposes of this invention are to 1 )rovide a simplified construction of interlock of this nature which may be applied practicably to an electric controller of known construction and widely in use in connection with passenger elevators in oflice buildings; and to provide an interlock for attachment to the type of controller shown in the drawings which may be applied without material change in the controller or necessitating changing its location in the car, disturbing its mounting, or, as is sometimes done, cutting an aperture through the wall of the car adjacent to the rear of the controller.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of an electric controller provided with the present improven'ients and with the front cover plate removed.

Fig. 2 shows the controller in side elevation, but with the casing and cover plate in section.

The results of this invention in one instance have heretofore been accomplished by attaching a segment to the rear face of the controlling arm, said segment having a peripheral apertured flange which interlocks with a reciprocating rod under the control of the door lock operating mechanism. Since the controllers were generally mounted against one wall of the car, such construction necessitated moving the controller in wardly from said wall to provide space for the segment, or otherwise cutting an aperture in the wall of the car within which the segment could rotate. With the present movable with the members 15.

construction, no change in the mounting of the controller necessary, nor is it necessary to make a cut in the wall of the car. The device is designed as to fit within the lower front part of the controller casing without change in the latter or change in the operating devices of the controller.

The drawings show a well-known type of electric controller comprising a casing 1 having outlets 2 and 3 for electric conduits and a front cover plate 4: screwed to the casing 1. The circuit controlling devices mounted within the casing 1 do not form a part of the present invention and are illustrated herein only to the extent necessary to show how movement is imparted to the interlocking plate 5 which is the specific construction provided by the present invention.

The controller handle 6 is carried by an arm 7 pivotally mounted in a bearing 8 cast in the casing 1. The pivotal connection be tween the bearing 8 and arm 7 is represented by a short headed shaft 9. A forked eX- tension 10 projects downwardly from the arm 7 and, through the plate 5 and a pair of links 17 and 18, cooperates with a center ing spring 12 compressible in two directions along the guide rod 13 projecting inwardly from the sides of the casing. The outer ends of the spring 12 bear against the adjustable members 15 slidably mounted 011 the rod 13 and connected to the forked end 16 of the arm 10 by links 17 and 18 and the plate 5. The forked end 16 of the arm 10 has stub shafts 19 and 20 passing through apertures in the inner ends of the links and a vertical slot 21 in the center of the plate 5. The links are provided with longitudinal slots 22, and the plate 5 also has longitudinal slots 23 through which project trunnions or stub shafts 24 on collars 25 The links 17 and 18 and the plate 5 are retained on the stub shafts 19, 20, and 24. by washers 26 and cotter pins 27. Due to the connection at the vertical slot 21 between the plate 5 and the trunnion 19 on the arm 10, the plate is caused to reciprocate with the arm when the arm is oscillated around the shaft 9. The spring 12 is accordingly compressed one way or the other, depending upon the direction of movement of the arm 10, and serves to restore this arm and the arm 7 rigid there with to central position upon the release of the operating handle 6. The plate 5 in this respect accordingly has the same function as the links 18 and 19, and in fact replaces a pair or said links. The plate 5 is guided during its reciprocating motion by a guide bar fixed to cover plate 4 and a guide bar 29 fixed to the casing 1 by screws 30. A horizontal flange 31 on the lower edge of plate 5 is provided with an aperture 32 which registers with a reciprocating rod 33 when the plate is in its central position as shown, and the operating handle 6 is in the off or neutral position. The rod 33 is movable with the door lock operating pedal which projects upwardly through the floor of the car well known (not shown in the present drawings). The rod 33 must move upwardly when one of the shaft doors is unlocked by the depression of said pedal. Such upward movement is possible only when the controlling arm is in the off position, since at that time, the aperture 32 registers with the rod 33. At all other positions of the controlling arm and plate 5 movable therewith, the flange 31 prevents upward movement of rod 33 and the depression of the controlling pedal. The function of the guide bars 28 and 29 is to post tively prevent any rocking of the plate 5 or lost motion therein if the rod 33 is pro jected against the lower edge of the flange 31. Any upward movement of the rod (and coincidental movement of the door unlocking mechanism) is thereby practically pre vented until the control lever is in neutral position.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

o claim:

1. An electric controller of the class described. comprising a casing having a controller arm journaled therein, a plate mounted within the lower part of said casing and having a slot and pin connection to said arm whereby said plate is reciprocated upon oscillating motions of the arm, an

aperture in said plate, and a movable rod forming part of the door lock operating mechanism in position to be projected through said aperture when the controlling arm is in its neutral or off position.

2. An electric controller of the class described, comprising a casing having a controller arm journaled therein, a plate mounted within the lower part of said casing and having a slot and pin connect-ion to said arm whereby said plate isreciprocated upon oscillating motions of the arm, said plate having a horizontal flan 'e provided with an aperture, and a movable-rod forming part of the door lock operating mechanism in position to be projected through said aperture when the controlling arm is in its neutral or 01f position.

3. An electric cont-roller of the class described, comprising a casing having a controller arm journaled therein, a plate mounted within the lower part of said casing and having a slot and pin connection to said arm whereby said plate is reciprocated upon oscillating motions of the arm, an aperture in said plate, a movable rod forming part of the door lock operating mechanism in position to be projected through said aperture when the controlling arm is in its neutral or ofi" position, and spring centering devices for said arm arranged to be actuated by the movement of the plate.

41-. An electric controller of the class described, eomprising a casing having a controller arm journaled therein a plate mounted within the lower part of said casing and having a slot and pin connection to said arm whereby said plate is reciprocated upon oscillating motions of the arm, an aperture in said plate, a movable rod forming part of the door lock operating mechanism in position to be projected through said aperture when the controlling arm is in its neutal or 01f position, and guides for said plate arranged to prevent any but straight reciprocating motion of the plate.

Signed at Chicago this 6th day of May, 1918.

HARRY B; LOCKWOOD. GEORGE BRINKMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Paton".

Washington, D. G. 

